Bolton next permanent manager odds

Bolton next permanent manager odds

After almost a decade in the Premier League, it seems like an eternity since Bolton Wanderers suffered relegation to the Championship. However, in reality, it has been just four seasons, and the club have fallen a lot further since.

Despite narrowly missing out in a place in the 2012/13 Championship play-offs, Bolton have continued to fall further away from the top flight with each passing season, before eventually succumbing to a second relegation in five years at the end of the 2015/16 season.

The slump appears to have come to an end in League One, with the club currently flying high near the top of the table with half of the season now behind them. Phil Parkinson has done a brilliant job with the club since taking over during the summer. However, if results begin to dip, the club’s hierarchy are likely to turn their attention elsewhere promptly, but who are they likely to turn to in their search for a new manager?

Steve Cotterill is on the lookout for a new project following his departure from Bristol City at the start of the year. Despite struggling to cement the club’s place in the Championship, he was responsible for transforming them from a mid-table League One side into promotion candidates and ultimately succeeded in taking them to the next level. It has been close to a quarter of a century since Bolton played at this level and a manager with plenty of League One experience would be a perfect fit.

Following a turbulent few years, Bolton need a manager that will bring stability to the club. Their best years came under Sam Allardyce, who managed the club for eight years between 1999 and 2007, and his England dismissal may have come at the perfect time for Bolton.

While League One football may be somewhat below his usual level, Allardyce will be looking to rebuild his reputation after losing the England job to an undercover sting and could be persuaded to restore a club that he previously guided to the Premier League to their former glory.

There will undoubtedly be better offers from Championship sides, while a few Premier League clubs might even be willing to take their chances with him. However, Bolton’s fanbase were one of few that offered their support following his England dismissal and would undoubtedly be rewarded for their loyalty should they land their former manager.

If Allardyce proves to be an unattainable target for the club, they could turn their attention to his former apprentice, Phil Brown. The current Southend United manager played under Allardyce at Bolton, before serving at his assistant for another six years. He has since proved his worth as a manager. He took over the Hull City hotseat from none other than Phil Parkinson back in 2006 and guided them to the Premier League. His spell at the club soon soured, but he has since restored his reputation by achieving promotion to League One with Southend.

He never had the chance to prove himself in the Macron Stadium hotseat, but now could be the perfect time to return to Bolton Wanderers for a spell in charge. Who knows - he could prove to be just as influential as his former tutor, Allardyce, and guide them back to the top.